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Getting to know Rose-Tu
Although she is the second smallest elephant in the herd, Rose-Tu is one of the most popular among both the elephants and their keepers. Playful and highly intelligent, she is always looking to tease.
Born at the Oregon Zoo in 1994 to Me-Tu and Hugo, Rose-Tu was considered by keepers as one of the feistiest babies the herd had produced in years.
Her Birth
Although zookeepers did not expect Rose-Tu's delivery until October of 1994, mother Me-Tu began showing signs of oncoming labor at the end of August. After a three-day vigil, however, the baby still had not made its appearance.
Zookeepers decided to induce labor with an injection of oxytocin, a drug similar to that used to induce birth in humans. It was only the fifth induced elephant birth in North America, and the first at the Oregon Zoo.
"Once the injection was given, the labor proceeded quickly," said Dennis Pate, zoo curator at the time. "Me-Tu began bending at her knee, and a large bulge appeared below her tail."
Nineteen minutes later, on Aug. 31, the 180-pound calf was born. She was the 26th elephant born at the zoo.
The baby made attempts to stand almost immediately. After several failed attempts, she made it to her feet and stood for 21 minutes. She was nursing within an hour after birth.
Later that evening, Me-Tu unexpectedly gave birth to a female twin, the first incidence of twin elephant birth in North America. The second calf was completely still after birth, and she died after a two-hour attempt by veterinary staff to keep her alive. A necropsy revealed brain damage and a collapsed lung.
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